Ahaana Desai was rushing down the crowded streets of Mumbai, her arms laden with a large canvas and a satchel of paints slung across her shoulder. Her heart was racing, not just from the exertion but from the anxiety bubbling up inside her. She was already late for the opening at the Vibrance Art Gallery, where she had been offered a last-minute slot to showcase her work-a chance she desperately needed. The gallery was just a few streets away, but with the city's usual chaos, the distance felt like a mile.

As she rounded a corner, dodging a street vendor with a cart full of colorful bangles, she didn't see the man walking in the opposite direction, engrossed in his phone. They collided. Her canvas slipped from her hands, and her satchel tipped over, spilling tubes of paint across the pavement. A streak of crimson splashed across her painting, and bright yellow seeped into the carefully crafted background, mixing with the blues and whites in a chaotic mess.

"Oh no, no, no!" Ahaana exclaimed, scrambling to pick up the fallen paints. Her once-bright eyes filled with panic as she stared at the ruined canvas.

The man, Kairav Agnihotri, bent down to help gather the scattered paint tubes. Dressed in a sleek, tailored suit, his expensive leather shoes now had streaks of bright yellow across them. He looked more irritated than apologetic. "Watch where you're going," he said, his voice cool and commanding. "You're making a mess."

Ahaana shot him a glare, her frustration boiling over. "I'm making a mess? You were the one who wasn't looking where you were going!" She snatched the paint tubes from his hands. "You've ruined my painting," she said, pointing at the crimson streak that now slashed through what had been a delicate portrait of a woman's face.

Kairav straightened, his jaw tightening. "I think the paint was already doing a good job of that," he remarked dryly, glancing at the smeared colors on the canvas.

She looked up at him, stunned for a moment by his audacity. "Excuse me?" she said, her eyes flashing. She was about to say more, but then she noticed the time on her watch. "Forget it," she muttered, knowing she had no time for arguments. She hastily picked up the canvas, now covered in splashes of paint, and began to hurry off.

But Kairav wasn't quite done. "Wait," he called out, his voice now laced with curiosity rather than annoyance. "Are you... an artist?"

Ahaana stopped and turned, clutching the ruined painting to her chest. "Yes, I am," she replied, the hint of defiance still in her tone. "Not that it's any of your business."

Something shifted in Kairav's gaze-part intrigue, part something else. "Well, it doesn't look like you'll be able to present that at any gallery in this state," he said, nodding toward the canvas.

Ahaana's shoulders slumped. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. The painting was a disaster, and the opening was in just a few minutes. Her chance to make an impression at the Vibrance Art Gallery had just slipped through her fingers, all because of an unfortunate accident-and an insufferably rude stranger.

Without another word, she turned away from him and hurried off, her heart sinking. But as she disappeared into the crowd, Kairav found himself staring after her, his irritation giving way to a flicker of interest. There was something about her-the fiery determination in her eyes, the way she had spoken about her art as if it was a part of her-that stayed with him even after she was already gone

AUTHOR'S POV

She arrived at art gallery and put her canvas on stand and started to re paint it until the chief guest entered .... she didn't notice the chief guest continue painting and cursing the man who bumped into her in mind "pata nhi kahan kahan se aa jate h , bas attitude dikha lo-"

She stopped when someone tapped on her shoulder , she turns around and saw the same man ...who bumped into her which flares her anger more " yaha bhi aa gye tum? Or kuch kaam nhi h kya ek to meri painting kharab kar di upar se sir pe khade ho , kya chahiye ab tumhe ?" She said in one breathe due to anger , kairav's assistant came forward and told her that " He is Kairav Agnihotri, today's chief guest"..... which made her confused then shocked....

"Um ..I-I....I'm sorry sir ....I'm Ahaana Desai....I didn't know you are chief guest ....I was frustrated because of my destroyed painting I-" she stopped herself noticing he was smirking and then left leaving her in confusion

She thought ' why was he smirking' and then she scold herself " kya karti hai ahaana , kabhi to muh band rakha kar"

The organiser announce that "chief guest Mr kairav Agnihotri arrived so please stand beside your art" . After that kairav approached the artist one by one until he approached her , she didn't show him her painting

"Miss , Where's your painting " he asked . She gave him look'are you for rea?' ...."it's ruined,  sir" She managed to say and takes her stuff before leaving .

While she was going home  in dark night ,her phone rings ....it's was her brother , Raghav. She picks up call

OTP

Ahaana : "Hello bhaiya?"

Raghav : "Where are you , ahaana? It's late...

Ahaana : "Bhaiya , I don't know"

Raghav : "what do you mean you don't know ?"

Ahaana : "I got lost" (her voice cracked)

Raghav : "Calm down , little one and tell me where are you"

Before she could say anything , a car stopped beside her

"Get in , miss" , the man in the car said . "Why should I" she replied.  While Raghav was still on call ask

"Ahaana , who is this?" Before she could answer , the man came out from car and snatched her phone and put it on his ear "hello ?" . Raghav was silent for few minutes and then speak , tried to keep his calm " May I know who are you?", the man said "kairav agnihotri , don't worry I'll drop your sister" . Raghav reluctantly agreed  and hung up the call.

"Get in , miss painter" kairav said ....she huffed and sat . Kairav smirked and sat in driver's seat. "So , what's your address , and why are you here alone at night ?" He asked , She didn't say anything , just put the location in Google map's. He mumbled "interesting".After 50 minutes of driving they arrived at her house greeted by her worried brotherat front door .She  get off from car and hug her brother . "Stupid girl , you should have told me you left the gallery I would have pick you up" Raghav said . Kairav get off from car and goes to Raghav and shake hand with him with a smirk . Raghav smiled . "Thank you , kairav . For dropping her" Raghav said . "Pleasure is mine" kairav said with amusement.

🌸Ahaana pov 🌸

I arrived at art gallery, hopefully I wasn't late so I started re painting my canvas , cursing the man who ruined my painting. Then someone tapped on my shoulder I turned around to see , its was the same man who bumped into me . "yaha bhi aa gye tum? Or kuch kaam nhi h kya ek to meri painting kharab kar di upar se sir pe khade ho , kya chahiye ab tumhe ?" I said in irritated tone . His assistant came forward and told me that he is kairav Agnihotri,  the chief guest . I got shocked and mentally cursed myself for blurt out. He then smirked and left . After that organiser announce that Mr kairav will see the arts one by one.  But I wasn't prepared . He approached me and ask me Where's my painting .... but I gave him a look 'are you for real , you ruined my art' but I managed to say " it's ruined, sir". After that I packed my stuff abd walks out of gallery . Soon its almost night I was lost in my thought but suddenly my phone rang . It was Raghav bhaiya , maybe he was worried ... I picked up phone "hello bhaiya ?" I said . "Where are you ?" He asked . He is way too worried . I looked around and realised I got lost , surroundings are unfamiliar to me . "I don't know" I replied . Bhaiya got panicked and raised his voice  "What do you mean you don't know?"... "I don't know" I replied ...

Before I could answer his another question, a car pulled beside me , "Get in , miss" , the man in the car said I looked at the man he was none other than man who bumped into me aka Mr kairav Agnihotri ....Soon he dropped me at my house , bhaiya was waiting outside front door , he was worried and concerned.  Bhaiya thanked him for dropping  Me and he was just smirking .... what the heck.

🌸Author's pov 🌸

After dropping her , kairav left and Ahaana and Raghav went inside,  she greeted by siya , her sister in law . "Where were you,  ahaana?" Siya said . "I'm sorry bhabhi , I didn't wanted to give you stress , its not good for your baby". Ahaana said while siya sighed in disbelief.  Raghav came with water for Ahaana . "Thank you bhaiya" ahaana said. "Did you two eaten yet " she continued . "I ate but Raghav didn't,  he was waiting for you" siya replied ... before ahaana could say Raghav sent siya in her room as she needs rest in pregnancy.

[NOTE : SIYA IS 4 WEEKS PREGNANT]

After siya left , Raghav start serving themselves food ... "Bhaiya,  can I ask something?" She asked  ... Raghav just hummed. "Do you know that akdu , I mean Mr kairav ... I noticed you were friendly" she asked . Raghav chuckles and leads her to dining table.  "Kairav is my best friend" Raghav reveals while ahaana was surprised and shocked.

...That's all I guess , anyways enjoy the book I'll keep you updated...